Big game for ... Kieran Foran

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Few Vodafone Warriors players shoulder more expectation from game to game than Kieran Foran.

And now the workload has ramped up to the next level since he lost his regular halves partner Shaun Johnson in the defeat by Penrith two weeks ago.

Foran’s response to Johnson's absence was to take on even greater responsibility against North Queensland last Saturday night while allowing Mason Lino to settle into his supporting role as Johnson’s replacement.

The Vodafone Warriors’ overall effort against the Cowboys was singularly impressive even though it didn’t deliver the desired outcome.

In that area - effort alone - Foran led the way.

He took on a huge amount of work making the most runs (24) and metres (176) for the team as well as having a key hand in both tries by Bunty Afoa and Simon Mannering.

He would have scored a try of his own but for a desperate defensive effort from Gavin Cooper, who dislodged the ball from Foran’s grasp as he was preparing to put it down for what might have been a game-changing touchdown.

Tonight, in his 14th appearance of the season, he’ll need to match the effort again as will his team-mates.